Thompson: A's rotation now one for opponents to fear

Tommy Milone hasn't lost a start since May 3 at Boston. In his 11 starts since, he gave up a total of 20 runs. Yet Saturday he was sent to the minors.

There it is. The illustration of why A's general manager Billy Beane pulled the trigger on a blockbuster deal weeks before baseball's trade deadline, why he gave up top prospect Addison Russell. With the acquisition of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs, the A's starting rotation has crazy depth.

Now, Oakland is for sure ready to hang with the big arms the A's will face in the playoffs. They can go into Games 3 and 4 of a series relying on more than the hope of a long shot punching above his weight.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jason Hammel (39) throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Friday, July 4, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Of most importance, per Beane, they have depth to help them ward off the charging Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners for the A.L. West crown.

The A's don't have marquee pitchers, but they have a top four that will provoke sweat beads on opposing brows: Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Samardzija and Hammel. Four starters with reliable stuff, with experience under their belts, with the moxie to match the big moments sure to come.

Add that to the highest-scoring offense in baseball and a bullpen that has found its groove, and the A's are that much more ready for a legit World Series run.

Now the A's have star power. Because, once again, Beane shows he sees what many don't.

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Most would look at having the best ERA among starting rotations, which the A's did (3.30), as a sign things are going great. However, Beane saw the A's starters as a weakness.

Most would consider one of the top prospects in baseball as being untouchable. The A's had that in Russell. The shortstop is ranked No. 5 in Baseball America's midseason top 50 prospects. He clearly was the best bet at stardom the A's had in their farm system.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija throws against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday, June 28, 2014, in the second game of a doubleheader. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/MCT)
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Yet Beane saw that prospects are often either overrated or overpaid, and that a talent such as Russell can be just as valuable as a trade chip as for future production with Oakland. That's why even before Beane sent him to Chicago, he reportedly offered Russell to Tampa Bay for Rays ace David Price.

Why was Beane essentially shopping a potential future All-Star? Because the A's needed more horses in the starting rotation. It's been good, but the lingering doubt could not be denied.

Gray is in his first full big league season, and it shows in his tendency to spiral a bit when things get rough. He's been knocked around just enough to temper a bit the frenzy he created with last year's dominant postseason showing.

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Scott Kazmir delivers against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a Major League Baseball game, Monday, May 5, 2014, at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron/Bay Area News Group)
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Kazmir is on pace for his most innings pitched in a season since 2007, with an injury history that invites uncertainty. Jesse Chavez had two major league starts before this season. Milone has been lights out, but he won't scare the lineups of the Angels or Blue Jays or Tigers.

That's just too many question marks.

Samardzija and Hammel both rank in the top 25 in the majors in ERA (along with Kazmir) and strikeouts. They're two of only four pitchers in the majors with triple-digit strikeouts and fewer than 109 innings pitched.

Hammel will have the team's best WHIP when he walks in the clubhouse, and opponents are hitting just .222 against him (12th best in majors).

Samardzija is top-shelf talent who, with better run support, would probably be headed to the All-Star game.

Those are now the A's third and fourth starters.

And they come to a team with good defense, with a park that has its bonuses for pitchers, and with something to play for.